This is the first major post-release problem Tesla’s heavily hyped truck has faced. The vehicle was delayed several times, before eventually being released in December 2022. Pepsi received the first vehicles and ordered around 100 of the trucks pre-release. The truck’s specs are pretty impressive. Tesla says its 1,020 horsepower semi can go from 0-60 in just over five seconds while unladen. At full capacity, that takes around 20 seconds — but that’s not bad for something towing 80,000 pounds. It has a range of 530 miles, though it can eke out 600 if you’re traveling without a load attached.
Tesla’s semi is also a lot more accessible and easier to drive than traditional trucks — and it’s not just driver assistance software making things simpler. Trucks tend to have a large number of gears, with 18-speed transmissions being very common. Drivers have to navigate these gears as the truck takes on hills and other gradients along the journey. Being electric, the Tesla Semi doesn’t have a gearbox. Everything is handled by the motor, and the trucker using it has a far easier trip.
